Ruben Amorim drops major Man Utd update on four players ahead of Lyon clash, one ‘tough’ key figure ‘will return’

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Ruben Amorim has spoken out on four first-team Manchester United players ahead of the Red Devils’ forthcoming Europa League quarter-final match against Lyon.

Manchester United will resume their 2024-25 Europa League campaign on Thursday evening when they host Lyon at Old Trafford for the return leg of the last eight.

Ruben Amorim’s men were in France last week and United and Lyon settled for a 2-2 draw at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in the first-leg Europa League quarter-final tie.

The 40-year-old United manager cannot afford any more slip-ups and a lot is now riding on the Red Devils’ European campaign before the current season is out.

United are unlikely to secure European football for next season through the Premier League table and the Europa League offers a route back to the Champions League.

The Europa League is also Amorim’s last real shot to lift major silverware as United head coach in the 2024-25 season after his arrival from Sporting CP in 2024.

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Ruben Amorim confirms Matthijs de Ligt news ahead of Man Utd vs Lyon at Old Trafford in the Europa League

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Ruben Amorim revealed that Matthijs de Ligt has returned to the Manchester United first-team squad.

Matthijs de Ligt has been absent from the Red Devils’ last three matches due to injury and last featured in United’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest.

However, Amorim did confirm that Ayden Heaven would be out of action for United in the second-leg Europa League quarter-final encounter with Lyon on Thursday.

The United manager added that Jonny Evans has returned to training for United, but the veteran defender is not ready for first-team minutes in the forthcoming match.

Amad Diallo was ruled out of action back in February due to injury, but Amorim is hopeful that the 22-year-old Ivorian returns for United before the season is out.

“Matthijs [De Ligt] will return,” he said, as per the Manchester Evening News.

“Ayden [Heaven] has a small setback. Jonny Evans is back in training but he is not back for this game.

“Amad, he is not ready for this month. But I hope to have him for this season.”

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Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim speaks out on Matthijs de Ligt’s injury difficulty in his Europa League press conference

Matthijs de Ligt has impressed at Old Trafford since his arrival from Bayern Munich last summer and the Dutchman has fitted Amorim’s tactical system at United.

Amorim said that the 25-year-old ex-Ajax and Bayern Munich star has had “some pain” with his injury, but he added that De Ligt is “really working hard” to return.

“He [De Ligt] is going to return before the end of the season,” he explained.

“He has some pain. He finished the game against Nottingham Forest. He is really working hard, he is a tough guy.

“We hope to have Matthijs in the next weeks.”

The second-leg Europa League quarter-final clash between United and Ligue 1 outfit Lyon is slated for an 8pm UK kick-off time at Old Trafford.